Walking Englishman's 1000 Mile Walk

Photograph Gallery Stage 70 Morchard Bishop to South Zeal, Tuesday 2nd August 2011

The Story:

In terms of track and terrain, todays continuing journey through the heart of Devon was very similar to yesterdays; much of the walk being along quiet byways with the occasional detour from tarmac onto bridleways, fieldside paths and green paths. However, what was different to yesterday was the weather, it was perfect for walking with much of the day being spent under cloud cover. Yet it was dry, warm but not hot and with spells of sunshine toward the end of the walk and fittingly when I reached a major milestone, my 1,000th mile of the walk.

The first of the days activities was planned the night before, in the London Inn during a conversation with a fantastic chap called Bob Davies. He told us of a remarkable trio of brothers who worked a forge the same as they were worked over 200 years ago. While at the pub Bob promised us a visit as we walked out of the village in the morning. So in the morning, after saying goodbye to the legendary Doris Snell, our remarkable 89 year old host at Shippan Bed and Breakfast Strolling Steve and I accompanied Bob to meet Harold and Mervyn Webber, two of the brothers who work the forge while their brother Horace attends to domestic and administrative affairs. In the forge the brothers showed us old drill machines run by pins, blocks and gravity and many others including old bellow furnaces. The place is a national treasure. I was taken aback with it all. It was amazing. After saying goodbye to the wonderful characters of Morchard Bishop Strolling Steve and I followed the Two Moors Way on good tracks to Down St Mary and then road, fields and woodland to Zeal Monachorum where we met delightful Becks who was recovering from a spinal injury. Glad to met you Becks.

The remainder of the walk was dominated by roads to North Tawton, to Taw Green and to South Tawton. Yet at South Tawton all the road work was forgotten. As I entered the village the sun came out. As I entered the village I reached Dartmoor National Park. As I entered the village I reached 1,000 miles on my remarkable fantastic WOW walk!

Strolling Steves Daily Statistics:

Scenery: 5/10 – Pleasant but not Devon at its best.

History: 1/10 – A rich history of clotted cream but little else.

Interest: 1/10 – Seven zzzzzzz’s.

Track: 2/10 – Torturous, tarmac, trudge.

Comment: Instantly forgettable walk but Mikes 1,000 will remain with me.

The Photographs:

Frozen in time, the Old Forge in Morchard Bishop

Strolling Steve, Harold Webber, Mervyn Webber and Bob Davies

Working in the past, at work in Webber's forge

The Walking Englishman and the remarkable Webber brothers

Bird of Paradise (yes really, we saw him in Paradise just south of Morchard Bishop!)

Away from the roadside at Middle Weeke Farm

Pond at Southcott

Character in old wood at Southcott

Strolling Steves 'Stairway to Heaven'

Walking through vegetable fields at Shobrooke Farm

Strolling Steve takes a break in Down St Mary

Woodland and water between the Old Mill and Tuckingmill

Following the Devonshire Heartland Way

Abandoned machine found in disused Tuckingmill Quarry

....and a second....

....and a third

Tuckingmill Bridge

Walking into Zeal Monachorum

Zeal Monachorum, Cell of the Monks

Strolling Steve and Becks

Great Wooden Cross

Sign in the Devonshire heartland (not near the sea!)

Big lad spotted near Ashridge

Clock Tower in North Tawton

Leafy passage between North Tawton and Newland Mill

On the trail of the Otter

Stream at Wyke Crossroads

Thatched cottage at Taw Green

Celebrating two milestones, reaching Dartmoor and completing 1,000 miles!

Interesting building near the church in South Tawton